Obituary of Norman Eugene Kline

KLINE – Norman Eugene, 85, of Larchmont, NY died on May 17, 2020 at home of multiple myeloma. Born in Lynn, MA on April 7, 1935 to Louis & Esther (Swartz) Kline, he is mourned by his beloved wife of 56 years, Harriet (Hoffmann) Kline and his loving family: daughter Daisy of New York, NY, son Paul, daughter-in-law Brooke and grandchildren Lauren and Lola of Moraga, CA, and many nieces, nephews and dear friends. He was pre-deceased by his brothers Herbie Kline and Bernie Kline of Swampscott, MA and sister Bette Rubini of Coral Gables, FL. He attended Lynn English High School and studied at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst before coming to New York City and graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After being drafted into the United States Army, he served in Stuttgart, Germany where he first wrote for the Stars and Stripes and then for the Seventh Army Symphony & Soldiers Show Company. Upon his return, he became the Artistic Director of Herbert Berghof Playwrights Foundation in New York City. He was the Executive Director of the Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck, NY from its inception in 1972 until 1994. He then joined the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, NY as General Manager before retiring in 2002. He served as a Grants Panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council of the Arts and the Westchester Arts Council – and as an Adjunct Professor of Arts Management at Manhattanville College. An accomplished playwright, his works were produced on National Public Radio and at the Milwaukee Repertory, Cincinnati Playhouse, Toronto Workshop and HB Playwrights Theatre. Writing and making us laugh well into his eighties, his play ADVANTAGE GOD, was chosen as a finalist for the LaBute New Theater Festival in 2018 and published by The Westchester Review in 2019. He found joy in conversation, the theater, the ocean, the Red Sox, jazz, Stella Artois, Sinatra, The New Yorker, a bench in the sunshine, ice cream, the Michigan Wolverines, his weekend tennis game – and everyone who became ‘material’. He will long and lovingly be remembered for his warmth, quick wit, easy laugh, intelligence and above all, his pride in and love for his family. A celebration of Norman’s life will be held in the Fall. He often said ‘saltwater heals everything’; in lieu of flowers, please take a dip in the ocean or consider a donation in support of any arts organization that reminds you of Norman.